The EISRI 2013 edition focused on the influence of communication and media on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and was designed to create a unique opportunity for intersectoral and interdisciplinary discussions between leading stakeholders to:
Continue the conversation initiated during the “Science in Dialogue” Conference held during the Danish presidency to develop a European model for Responsible Research and Innovation;
Explore the role of media in the European model for Responsible Research and Innovation;
Facilitate the formation of professional networks, knowledge sharing, and exchange of best practices;
Come up with concrete recommendations on what has to be done in the short terms at a European level to reach the long term objectives of smart, inclusive and sustainable growth;
As outlined in the framework for Responsible, Research and Innovation (RRI), the grand societal challenges have a better chance of being tackled if all societal actors are fully engaged in the co-construction of innovative solutions, products and service. Thus RRI was developed in order to foster the creation of a Research and Innovation policy driven by the needs of society and engaging all societal actors via inclusive participatory approaches. The RRI approach is supported via six keys that were addressed during the conference:
Engagement
“Choose together”
The first key is Engagement of all societal actors – researchers, industry, policymakers and civil society – and their joint participation in the research and innovation process, in accordance with the value of inclusiveness, as reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
A sound framework for excellence in Research & Innovation entails that the societal challenges are framed on the basis of widely representative social, economic and ethical concerns and common principles. Moreover, mutual learning and agreed practices are needed to develop joint solutions to societal problems and opportunities, and to pre-empt possible public value failures of future innovation.
The EISRI Summit addressed this issue concretely in the following panels:
Responsibility in Science and Media
Public engagement in shaping the science agenda
Technology and innovation acceptability in a changing media environment
Digital and social media: new ways of engaging citizens in research and innovation
Gender equality
“Unlock the full potential”
The second key is Gender Equality. Engagement means that all actors – women and men – are on board. The under -representation of women must be addressed. Research institutions, in particular their human resources management, need to be modernized. The gender dimension must be integrated in research and innovation content.
The EISRI Summit ddressed this issue concretely in the following panel:
How the media can support gender equality in research and innovation
Science Education
“Creative learning fresh ideas”
The third key is Science Education. Europe must not only increase its number of researchers, it also needs to enhance the current education process to better equip future researchers and other societal actors with the necessary knowledge and tools to fully participate and take responsibility in the research and innovation process.
There is an urgent need to boost the interest of children and youth in maths, science and technology, so they can become the researchers of tomorrow, and contribute to a science-literate society. Creative thinking calls for science education as a means to make change happen.
The EISRI Summit addressed this issue concretely in the following panel:
Rethinking Science Education
Open Access
“Share results to advance”
In order to be responsible, research and innovation must be both transparent and accessible.
The fourth key is to make Open Access a reality. This means giving free online access to the results of publicly-funded research (publications and data). This will boost innovation and further increase the use of scientific results by all societal actors.
The EISRI Summit addressed this issue concretely in the following panel:
Open Access as a key tool to optimize the circulation of knowledge in Europe
Ethics
“Do the right “think” and do it right”
The fifth key is Ethics. European society is based on shared values. In order to adequately respond to societal challenges, research and innovation must respect fundamental rights and the highest ethical standards. Beyond the mandatory legal aspects, this aims to ensure increased societal relevance and acceptability of research and innovation outcomes.
Ethics should not be perceived as a constraint to research and innovation, but rather as a way of insuring high quality results.
The EISRI Summit addressed this issue concretely in the following panel:
Excessive trust and misplaced fears: The social responsibility of the media in promoting a better understanding of research ethics
Governance
“Design science for and with society”
The last dimension is the umbrella for all the others: it is Governance.
Policymakers also have a responsibility to prevent harmful or unethical developments in research and innovation.
Through this key we develop harmonious models for Responsible Research and Innovation that integrate public engagement, gender equality, science education, open access and ethics.
The EISRI Summit addressed this broader issue concretely in the following panel:
Public engagement in shaping the science agenda
Digital and social media: new ways of engaging citizens in research and innovation
